Malaysia begin preparing for Champions Challenge

23/11/2001

MALAYSIA have started preparing to host Japan in the first match of the
Champions Challenge on Dec 7.
Yesterday, the team started training after 6pm, as a mark of respect for
the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah who was laid
to rest at the Sultan Suleiman royal mausoleum, and the emphasis was on
short corner set-pieces.
"I have watched on video how Japan defended their short corners and have
come up with variations to beat them in that section. The Japanese are
extremely good at defending short corners but they can be beaten," said
national coach Paul Lissek.
Although more than 50 per cent of the national players were still
fasting when training started, it did not stop Lissek from maximising the
training session with gruelling runs and then breaking them up into groups
for set-pieces.
At the goalmouth, Jiwa Mohan, Chua Boon Huat and S. Kuhan were busy
working on a new variation, which looked very simple but deadly at the
same time.
"We do not have much time left to prepare for the 2002 Kuala Lumpur
World Cup in February next year, so I cannot afford to let the boys take
it easy although it is the fasting month," said Lissek.
Malaysia will play all their Champions Challenge matches at 8pm at the
National Hockey Stadium on Dec 7-15, so to prepare the team further,
manager Datuk R. Yogeswaran said they will start training at 8pm from Nov
26.
"We will request for floodlights from the 26th onwards because the
players need to get used to playing right after breaking their fast.
"The Champions Challenge will be crucial in charting our World Cup
fortunes, so we must do well in the tournamant at all cost," said
Yogeswaran.
All six teams taking part in the Challenge - Malaysia, Argentina,
Belgium, India, Japan and South Africa - will be playing in the 2002 World
Cup.
Right now, most of the national trainees are on their own and only
report for training at specific times in the morining and evenings, but
January onwards, they will be housed a the National Sports Council hostel
for the final push.
"Some of the players have work commitments while some are stil studying,
so right now we accommodate them as long as they are punctual during
training sessions and are serious about making the 2002 World Cup squad.
"But January onwards, we will bring them together under one roof for the
final polish. We have plans to take them out of Kuala Lumpur, for about 10
days in January, to break the monotony of training because we do not want
the players to get jaded," said Yogeswaran.
Malaysia have been invited by Spain for the Four-Nation on Jan 5 and
according to Yogeswaran, it will indicate how much Malaysia have prepared
for the World Cup.
"A Four-Nation involving Malaysia, Spain, England and South Africa is on
the cards next year. It will be a good tune-up before the World Cup
because after we return, there are plans to hold a Six-Nation in Malaysia
at the end of January.
"Right now, we need all the practice matches that we can get because the
national players have not seen any action since the Azlan Shah Cup in
August," said Yogeswaran.
Spain and South Africa are in Group A of the World Cup while Malaysia
and England are in Group B.
* jugjet@nstp.com.my
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